JP2003234886A - Image processor and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide image processor and its method capable of adding a trace signal so as to easily detect more important information while suppressing the deterioration of picture quality. <P>SOLUTION: A reference area constituting one period of a tracing dot pattern is divided in accordance with the contents of the trace information, dots of a large size are added to an area indicating the most important start mark or maker ID, dots of a medium size are added to an area indicating individual ID such as a serial number important next and dots of a small size are added to the other information area. Consequently a trace pattern is added so that more important information can be easily detected while suppressing the deterioration of picture quality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for adding a predetermined signal to an image signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image processing apparatuses such as color printers and color copying machines have been remarkably improved in performance.
It is becoming possible to form high-quality images. Under such circumstances, it is possible to form images that are almost the same as paper money and securities, so in the future problems such as forgery of paper money and securities and copyright infringement will increase. Conceivable.

As a countermeasure against the above problems, when a color image is printed out by an image forming apparatus, a dot pattern indicating information about the image forming apparatus is identified by human eyes with respect to the color image to be printed. A dot pattern addition method is known in which it is added in a difficult state.

As the dot pattern added in this method, a plurality of predetermined dots each consisting of a plurality of pixels are usually arranged within a predetermined size, and the content of the additional information indicated by the dot pattern is the arrangement of dots within this predetermined size. Expressed by the method.

The dot pattern is periodically printed on the entire screen. Further, in order to make it difficult for the human eye to identify, for a color image composed of, for example, four planes of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, a dot pattern is usually added only to the yellow plane.

When a dot pattern is added to a color image as described above and an image whose image formation should be prohibited or a copy image whose copying should be prohibited is found, a scanner or the like is used. By detecting the dot arrangement from these images and decoding the additional information,
It is possible to specify the device that formed the image.

However, the copy-prohibited image usually contains line drawings, textures, or areas of relatively high density. Even if yellow dots are added to such an image, the dots cannot be recognized because they are hidden in the image, making it difficult to decode the additional information. Further, the normal image forming apparatus performs halftone processing on the input image, so that halftone dots by the systematic dither method and dispersed dots by the error diffusion method appear on the image. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish the added yellow dots from the added yellow dots, and it may be difficult to decode the additional information.

As described above, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus for adding yellow dots, it may be difficult to detect the added dot pattern. Therefore, the function of preventing forgery is not perfect.

As a method for solving this problem, there is a method of making it easy to distinguish the dot and the image of the background by strongly hitting the added yellow dot. In this case, the added yellow dot is There is a problem that the image quality is deteriorated because it is very noticeable particularly in a white background portion or a cyan single color portion of a normal image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an image processing apparatus and method for adding a tracking signal so that important information can be detected more easily while suppressing deterioration in image quality. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

As one means for achieving the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the additional signal generating means for generating the additional signal indicating the predetermined information, the intensity signal control means for generating the additional intensity signal indicating the additional intensity level when the additional signal is added, and the image signal On the other hand, there is provided an adding means for adding the additional signal based on the additional intensity signal.

For example, the intensity signal control means is characterized in that the intensity signal for the additional signal is generated at an additional intensity level according to the degree of importance of the information indicated by the additional signal.

For example, the adding means adds the additional signal to the image signal as a dot having a larger size as the additional intensity signal has a higher level.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> First, FIG. 1 shows an example of an image processing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied. In this embodiment, a color LBP (laser beam printer) is used as the image processing device.

In FIG. 1, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 100 by the image information sent from the optical unit 107 for each color based on the TOP signal, and the formed latent image is stored in the developing device holder 108 of each color. A multicolor image is formed on the image carrier 403 by being sequentially developed by the developing devices Dy, Dc, Db, and Dm and transferred to the image carrier 103 a plurality of times. afterwards,
The transfer material P selected and extracted from the transfer material holders 181 to 184 is conveyed between the image carrier 103 and the transfer / conveyance belt 150, and the transfer material P is transferred with the multicolor image on the image carrier 103. . The multicolor image transferred on the transfer material P is thermally fixed on the transfer material P by the fixing unit 104. After that, the transfer material P is ejected from the paper ejection unit 105.
The sheet is further discharged to the upper tray section 106 or the lower sheet discharge tray section 115.

The image forming operation in the color LBP will be specifically described below. First, the photosensitive drum 100 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity (for example, −600 V) by the charger 111, and a latent image is formed by exposure with the laser beam L in accordance with image data sent from the controller based on the TOP signal. The latent image on the photosensitive drum 100 is formed by, for example, an M (magenta) color developing device Dm, and a developer image is formed on the photosensitive drum 100. On the other hand, at the predetermined timing, the polarity opposite to the developer image (eg, positive polarity)
Is applied to the image carrier 103, and the first developer image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the image carrier 403. After that, the first remaining on the photosensitive drum 100
The developer is removed by the cleaner 412 to prepare for the next latent image forming and developing process.

After the first developing color is completed, the photosensitive drum is
A latent image of a second color (for example, cyan) is formed on 100 by the laser beam L, and a developer image is formed by the second developing device. Then, this second developer image is transferred to the image carrier 103 in the same manner as described above in accordance with the tip position of the first developer image previously transferred to the image carrier 103. Similarly, the third and fourth latent images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 100, and are sequentially developed by the third and fourth developing devices, respectively, and the developer images previously transferred to the image carrier 103. By sequentially transferring the third and fourth developer images in line with each other, the four color developer images are formed on the image carrier 103 in an overlapping state.

After that, when the image front end portion of the image carrier 103 on which the four-color developer images are superposed and transferred approaches the transfer material transfer position, a high voltage (for example, +2 KV) is applied to the transfer and transport belt 150. The transfer and transport belt 150 is brought into contact with the image carrier 403. After that, the transfer material picked up from any of the transfer material holders 181 to 184 is conveyed between the image carrier 103 and the transfer / conveyance belt 150 in accordance with the leading end position of the developer image to perform the transfer. Further, the static elimination needle 151 arranged at the rear part of the transfer / transport belt 150 is set to have a reverse polarity of the bias applied to the transfer / transport belt 150 (for example, −1 KV) or grounded, and the rear end of the transfer material transfers the transfer / transport belt 150. It operates until it separates and removes the accumulated charge on the transfer material. The rear end of the transfer material is at the transfer end position (the image carrier 103 and the transfer and conveyance belt 1
Image carrier when it reaches the exit of the nip formed by 50)
The primary transfer high voltage applied to 103 is turned off (ground potential).

Further, when the rear end of the transfer material is conveyed from the transfer / conveyance belt 150, the high voltage applied to the transfer / conveyance belt 150 and the discharging needle 151 is turned off. At this time, the transfer and transport belt 150 is separated from the image carrier 103. Next, the transfer material separated from the transfer and conveyance belt 150 is conveyed to the fixing unit 104, where the developer image on the transfer material is thermally fixed, and is discharged onto the lower paper ejection tray 115 or the upper paper ejection tray 105. It

The transfer from the image carrier 103 to the transfer material starts, and the tip of the transfer portion after the transfer is the cleaning roller 13
When approaching 0, the cleaning roller contacts the image carrier 103. A bias having the same polarity as that of the transfer and transport belt 150 is applied to the cleaning roller 130, and the transfer residual developer having the opposite polarity on the image carrier 103 is attracted to the cleaning roller 130 for cleaning. The transfer residual developing material whose polarity has been changed to the polarity is returned to the photosensitive drum 100 by further strengthening the polarity, and is prepared for the next printing sequence of the image carrier 103.

When performing double-sided printing on a transfer material, the multi-paper feed tray 160 is placed with the surface on which the transfer material having undergone the above-mentioned printing sequence is fixed as the back surface and the above-mentioned printing sequence is performed again, or the transfer material is held. Either the body 181 to 184 is placed with the surface on which the transfer material that has completed the above-mentioned printing sequence is fixed as the surface, and the above-mentioned printing sequence is performed again, or the developer image on the transfer material in the above-mentioned printing sequence is displayed. After fixing, the transfer material is conveyed to the double-sided unit 90 side, and the switchback roller 170 of the double-sided unit is rotated in the paper feeding direction to hold the transfer material, before the rear end of the transfer material reaches the switchback roller. Then, the switchback roller is rotated in the reverse direction to convey the transfer material to the transfer material conveying path 80 in the double-sided unit 90 below the fixing unit 104. After that, the transfer material is picked up from the double-sided unit 90, the above-mentioned printing sequence is performed, and the transfer material having the developer images fixed on both surfaces is discharged onto the lower paper ejection tray 115 or the upper paper ejection tray 105. , A double-sided printed transfer material is formed.

The above is the color LBP used in this embodiment.
Is an outline of the printing process in. With this color LBP, a full-color image with extremely high precision and good color reproducibility can be obtained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a signal processing configuration in the color LBP of this embodiment. When a print command from a host computer (not shown) is received, the page description language is sent from the driver 201 and the controller 211
Is input to. When outputting a bitmap image, the page description language includes bitmap data.

A decoder 202, a band memory A203, a band memory B204, and a color conversion processing unit 20 are provided in the controller 211.
5, a γ correction unit 206, and a halftone processing unit 207 are arranged. The page description language that is input is interpreted by the decoder 202 and the RG
B is converted into 8-bit image data. The RGB image data is input to the band memory. The band memory is composed of two memories, a band memory A203 and a band memory B204, and one memory can store image data of several lines. First, while the image area for the first predetermined line is expanded in the band memory A203, and while the image area for the next predetermined number of lines is expanded in the band memory B204, RGB image data is output from the band memory A203. To be done. Further, while the image area for the next predetermined number of lines is being developed in the band memory A203, the image data of RGB is output from the band memory B204. It is configured to be expanded and output.

The RGB image data output from the band memory is input to the color conversion processing unit 205 in parallel, subjected to predetermined color conversion and UCR processing, and M, C, Y, BK.
Is converted into an image signal. Color LBP of this embodiment
Forms one screen each of Y, M, C, and BK as described above, so that from the color conversion processing unit 205, frame sequential, that is, M
The image signals are output in the order of the data for one screen, the data for one screen for C, the data for one screen for Y, and the data for one screen for BK. Further, the color conversion processing unit 205 sends a color signal notifying the currently output color to the engine 212.

The image data of each color output from the color conversion processing unit 205 is then γ-corrected by the γ-correction unit 206 so that the output density curve becomes optimum, and the halftone processing unit 207.
The halftone processing is performed by a method such as a systematic dither method or an error diffusion method.

After that, the image data input to the engine section 212 is subjected to pulse width modulation by the PWM processing section 209 after being added with information in an information addition processing section 208 described later, and after being D / A converted. It is input to the laser driving unit 210 and printed on the recording medium.

On the other hand, the driver 201 stores various information on the host computer that issued the print command in the host information storage unit 213 in the controller 211. The information constitutes tracking information described later, and is input to the information addition processing unit 208 in the engine 212 at the time of image output.

The process of adding the tracking information in this embodiment will be described in detail below.

In the present embodiment, the tracking information is added by operating the yellow pixel data.
Specifically, information is embedded by arranging yellow minute dots (hereinafter referred to as additional dots) in an image according to a certain rule.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the structure of the tracking information added in this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the tracking information of the present embodiment includes a "maker ID" for identifying the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, and an "individual ID" such as the serial number of the apparatus for identifying the image forming apparatus. Further, the “network ID” such as the network address or the user ID of the image forming apparatus or the host computer connected to the apparatus at the time of printing, which is obtained from the host information storage unit 213, the date and time when the printing is performed. The “print date and time” and the like are stored.

FIG. 4 shows an example of additional dots that are actually added to the image in order to express the tracking information in this embodiment. In the figure, one square represents one pixel. For the input yellow image signal (8-bit data), the value of the pixel filled with black in the figure is "FF".
By replacing with, the additional dots of yellow are formed.

As the additional dots of this embodiment, there are three types of dot patterns of patterns a to c shown in FIG.
The pattern a is composed of 1 × 1 pixels, the pattern b is composed of 2 × 2 pixels, and the pattern c is composed of 3 × 3 pixels.

FIG. 5 shows an example of dot arrangement in this embodiment. Each rectangle shown by hatching in the figure is an additional dot by any of the patterns shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the predetermined code content is represented by the positional relationship of the additional dots. Note that FIG. 5 shows the minimum unit of dot arrangement, and in practice, this minimum unit is repeatedly added in the vertical direction (sub scanning direction) and the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) over the entire image. Hereinafter, this minimum unit is referred to as a reference dot pattern.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reference dot pattern of this embodiment is composed of four areas of "start mark area", "maker ID area", "individual ID area", and "other information area". There is. The "manufacturer ID area" is an area showing the manufacturer ID in FIG. 3, the "individual ID area" is an area showing the individual ID in FIG. 3, and the "other information area" is the network ID and print shown in FIG. This is an area that represents the date and time. The "start mark area" is an area showing the beginning of the reference dot pattern in FIG.

When the information is restored, the printed image is read by, for example, a scanner, only the yellow plane is displayed on the monitor, and the arrangement of the additional dots is checked to restore the embedded information.

Now, which dot pattern shown in FIG. 4 is added to each area shown in FIG. 5 will be described.

The "start mark area" is composed of a fixed dot array, and the start, direction and range of the reference dot pattern can be specified by detecting the "start mark area" during decoding.
In this way, the "start mark area" is the most important area for decoding the tracking information, so the dot pattern that should be added to this area should be the most important so that it can be distinguished from the background image. Select a large pattern c.

Since the "maker ID" is the most important in the information for specifying the image forming apparatus, the largest pattern c is also added to the "maker ID area".

Since the "individual ID" is the next most important information after the "maker ID", the second largest pattern b is added to the "individual ID area".

Furthermore, the "network ID" and "print date and time" are not information for specifying the image forming apparatus,
It is not necessary to decipher the information because it is just information to know the print situation in more detail. Therefore, the smallest pattern a is added to the "other information area".

FIG. 6 shows an example in which each pattern is actually added to the yellow plane of the image. Generally, an image contains patterns of various densities, and when additional dots overlap a pattern of relatively high density, it becomes difficult to detect the additional dots. In the figure, 601 is a dot representing a "start mark" and is formed by the dots of the pattern c, so that even if it overlaps with the high density pattern of the image, it can be surely detected. 602 is a dot representing the "maker ID", and since it is formed by the pattern c, it can be surely detected. 603 is "individual ID"
Which is a dot that represents a pattern b. Since these dots are smaller than the dots of 601, 602, it is difficult to detect when they overlap depending on the high density pattern of the image, but it is possible to detect with a relatively high probability. 604 is "
Since the dots represent "other information" and are formed with the smallest pattern a, the probability of detection is relatively low, but the influence on the image quality is minimal.

The information addition processing section 208 which controls the above-mentioned tracking information addition processing will be described in detail below. Figure 7
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an information addition processing unit 208. FIG. In the figure, the ROM 702 has a manufacturer ID of 8 bits and an individual ID of the image forming apparatus of 16 bits.
Is included. The CPU 701 receives the above information from the ROM 702 at the time of printing and stores it in the register 703 in the CPU 701. Further, the CPU 701 acquires information such as a network ID and print time from the host information storage unit 213 by serial communication, for example, and stores it in the register 703. The data stored in the register 703 is scrambled, encrypted, and then converted into dot position information to be added in the reference dot pattern.

The main scanning counter 704 performs a counting operation according to the clock signal VCLK in the main scanning direction of the image signal, and notifies the additional designation processing unit 706 of the count number in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning counter 705 is a clock signal LCL in the sub-scanning direction.
The count operation is performed according to K, and the addition designation processing unit 706 is notified of the count number in the sub-scanning direction.

Only when the color designation signal notified from the color conversion processing unit 205 shown in FIG. 2 designates yellow, the addition designation processing unit 706 counts dot position information and main scanning and sub-scanning in the register 703. When the dot should be added based on the dot position information based on the number, the dot intensity is set to "0 (strong)" or "1 (medium)" depending on the area where the dot to be added is located. It is determined as either "," 2 (weak), and output to the signal conversion unit 707 as an additional intensity signal. Also, the additional designation signal is turned on and the signal conversion unit 70
Output to 7.

The ROM 708 has patterns a to c shown in FIG.
3 types of additional dot patterns are stored, and the signal conversion unit 707 determines the additional dot pattern based on the additional intensity signals input at the same time when the additional designation signal is ON. That is, if the additional intensity signal is "0", the pattern c is selected, if it is "1", the pattern b is selected, and if it is "2", the pattern a is selected and superimposed on the input image data.

Note that the dot addition processing of this embodiment can also be performed by, for example, the printer driver in the host computer or the controller section in the image forming apparatus. The flow of processing in this case will be described below in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the dot addition process is started, first the maker ID and the individual ID of the image forming apparatus are acquired (S801), and then the information regarding the host computer is acquired (S80).
2). Next, the various information acquired in steps S801 and S802 is converted into dot position information in the reference dot pattern (S803).

Next, after initializing the main scanning counter and the sub-scanning counter indicating the position of the pixel of interest on the input image, each position of the pixel of interest in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is acquired, and the pixel of interest is obtained. By comparing the position with the dot position information, it is determined whether or not the target pixel position is a position where a dot should be added (dot addition position) (S804). If it is not the dot addition position, step S812
The main scanning counter is incremented by and the pixel of interest is advanced to the adjacent pixel. If it is the dot addition position, the dot addition area on the image is determined (S805), and the "start mark area" is displayed.
Alternatively, if it is the "maker ID area" (S806), the dot pattern c is selected (S810). Otherwise, if it is the "individual area" (S807), the dot pattern b is selected (S809). If not, it is the "other information area", and the dot pattern a is selected (S808).

After that, the selected dot pattern is added to the image data (S811). After adding dots, the main scanning counter is incremented and the pixel of interest is advanced to the adjacent pixel (S81
2). If it is not the end of the line (S813), step S80
Returning to step 4, the same processing as above is performed on the next target pixel. On the other hand, if it is the end of the line (S813), the sub-scanning counter is incremented to initialize the main scanning counter, and the pixel of interest is advanced to the beginning of the next line (S814). Then, if it is not the end of the image (S815), the process returns to step S804, and the same process as above is performed on the next target pixel. of course,
If the end of the image has been reached (S815), the process ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When adding a tracking signal to an image, by controlling the dot size according to the information content for each area in the reference dot pattern, the image as a whole is inconspicuous and the image forming apparatus can be identified. A tracking signal can be added so that essential information that is essential can be more reliably deciphered.

In the present embodiment, the reference dot pattern is divided into the start mark area, the maker ID area, the individual ID area, and other information areas, but the way of dividing the areas and the information added to each area are not limited to the above. Absent. Further, the number of bits of information to be added is not limited to the size of this embodiment.

<Second Embodiment> The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, the second embodiment uses the electrophotographic color LBP, and the configuration for performing the information addition processing is also the same as the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. . Further, the information to be added is also the "maker ID", "individual ID", "shown in FIG. 3 as in the first embodiment.
It is each information of network ID "," print date ",
It is assumed that each is information consisting of 4 bits, 8 bits, 4 bits, and 4 bits.

In the information addition processing unit 208 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, each information shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the register 703 in the CPU 701 at the time of printing and scrambled. At this time, each information having the above-mentioned number of bits is converted in the register 703 as shown in FIG. That is, M1 to M4 stored as "Maker ID"
4-bit information is converted into M1 'to M4' by being scrambled. Similarly, the 8-bit information of S1 to S8 as the "individual ID" is converted to S1 'to S8'. Also, the 4-bit data of the "network ID" and the "print date / time" are combined into 8-bit data, scrambled, and converted into ND1 to ND8 indicating "other information".

Below, referring to FIGS.
A method of adding a dot pattern in the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing dot reference positions (guidelines) in the dot pattern. P11 to P54, which are the intersections of the guidelines shown by the broken lines in the figure, are the reference positions for adding dots. Register 70 as described above
For each bit of each information stored in 3, the reference position P11
~ Any one of P54 will correspond.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a method of expressing the tracking information in the second embodiment. (A) and (b) of the same figure
Indicates the dot addition position with respect to the reference position 1101 when the value of each bit is "0" and "1", respectively. The reference position 1101 corresponds to any of the reference positions P11 to P54 shown in FIG. According to FIG. 11, the additional dot 1102 shown in (a) is added to the left of the corresponding reference position 1101, and the addition position of the additional dot 1103 shown in (b) is added to the right of the reference position 1101. Represent bit values of "0" and "1".

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the correspondence between each information bit (FIG. 9) and the dot reference position (FIG. 10) in the second embodiment. In the figure, (a) shows the correspondence in the order of bit numbers, and (b) shows the correspondence in the order of the reference dot positions. According to FIG. 12B, the bits that make up the "maker ID"
It can be seen that M1 'to M4', bits S1 'to S8' constituting the "individual ID", and bits ND1 to ND8 indicating "other information" are randomly scattered.

Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
The three types of additional dots of patterns a to c shown in FIG. 4 are held, and the pattern c corresponds to the dot corresponding to the “maker ID”, the pattern b corresponds to the dot corresponding to the “individual ID”, The pattern a is added to the dots corresponding to "other information". Therefore, the size of the additional dot corresponding to the reference dot position is as shown in FIG. However, “a”, “b”, and “c” shown in “dot size” in FIG.
The sizes of (1 × 1), pattern b (2 × 2), and pattern c (3 × 3) are shown. As described above, according to FIG. 12B, it is understood that the dot patterns of the same size do not solidify and are scattered at random.

Here, for example, an example of each bit value shown in FIG. 9 is shown, and a state of dot addition based on the value is shown. First, it is assumed that each bit value is as follows.

M1 '= 0, M2' = 1, M3 '= 1, M4' = 0 S1 '= 0, S2' = 0, S3 '= 1, S4' = 0, S5 '= 1, S6' = 1, S7 '= 0, S
8 '= 1 ND1 = 1, ND2 = 1, ND3 = 0, ND4 = 1, ND5 = 0, ND6 = 0, ND7 = 1, N
D8 = 0 In this case, according to the correspondence rule shown in FIG. 12, the reference dot positions P11 to P54 respectively represent the following values.

P11 = 0, P12 = 0, P13 = 1, P14 = 0 P21 = 1, P22 = 1, P23 = 0, P24 = 1 P31 = 0, P32 = 1, P33 = 1, P34 = 0 P41 = 1, P42 = 0, P43 = 1, P44 = 1 P51 = 0, P52 = 0, P53 = 0, P54 = 1 As a result, the reference dot pattern formed is shown in FIG. It can be seen from FIG. 13 that the additional dots of three sizes are added so as to be uniformly dispersed in the reference dot pattern.

When decoding the dot pattern added to the image in the second embodiment, the dot of the pattern c having the largest size is the most recognizable. Therefore, the "maker ID" can be decoded by reading the position of the pattern c in the reference dot pattern. Furthermore, the "individual ID" can be read by reading the position of the dot of the pattern b that is easy to recognize next, and the position of the pattern a can be read if the conditions are good, and the "network ID", "print date", etc. Can be deciphered.

According to the second embodiment, since the average size of all additional dots in the entire reference dot pattern is relatively small, the influence on the image quality can be very small.
Although the start mark indicating the starting point of the reference dot pattern is not shown in the second embodiment, a start mark may be added at a predetermined position if necessary.

Hereinafter, the operation of the information addition processing unit 208 in the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The description of the same operation as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

The ROM 702 has a 4-bit manufacturer ID (M1 ...
M4) and 8-bit individual ID (S1 to S8). The CPU 701 receives the above information from the ROM 702 at the time of printing and stores it in the register 703 in the CPU 701. Further, the CPU 701 uses the host information storage unit 213 to access the network
The ID (N1 to N4) and print time (D1 to D4) information is acquired by serial communication, for example, and the register 7 in the CPU 701 is used.
Store in 03. The data stored in the register 703 is scrambled to be converted into M1 'to M4', S1 'to S8', and ND1 to ND8 as shown in FIG.

The CPU 701 is, for example, the ROM 702 in advance.
12B, the bit value (0/1) corresponding to each of the reference positions P11 to P54 in the reference dot pattern is determined. Then, as described in FIG. 11, the reference positions P11 to P
The dot addition position corresponding to 54 is determined, and the CPU 701 stores the dot addition position in the register 703 as addition position information.

At the same time, the dot size (patterns a to c) information at each of the reference positions P11 to P54 is also three types of intensity information (pattern a = weak, pattern b = medium, pattern c = strong) based on the correspondence table. Is stored in the register 703.

Only when the color designation signal notified from the color conversion processing unit 205 shown in FIG. 2 designates yellow, the additional designation processing unit 706 adds the additional position information and the intensity information of the register 703, and the main scanning, When the dot should be added based on the addition position information by referring to the sub-scan count number, the intensity of the dot is set to "0" by the intensity information.
(Strong) ”,“ 1 (medium) ”, or“ 2 (weak) ”is determined and output as an additional intensity signal to the signal conversion unit 707. Further, the additional designation signal is turned on and the signal conversion unit 707 is turned on. Output to.

The ROM 708 has patterns a to c shown in FIG.
3 types of additional dot patterns are stored, and the signal conversion unit 707 determines the additional dot pattern based on the additional intensity signals input at the same time when the additional designation signal is ON. That is, if the additional intensity signal is "0", the pattern c is selected, if it is "1", the pattern b is selected, and if it is "2", the pattern a is selected and superimposed on the input image data.

Although an example in which the correspondence table shown in FIG. 12B is held in the ROM 702 is shown, the correspondence table is held in the RAM or the like and the contents of the table are stored based on the instruction from the connected control device. May be changeable.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the tracking signal is added to the image, the dot size is controlled according to the importance of the information in the reference dot pattern, and these several types are used. By dispersing the additional dot size of, the tracking signal can be added so that the image as a whole is inconspicuous and important information that is essential for specifying the image forming apparatus can be more reliably deciphered. .

In the second embodiment, information is expressed by arranging additional dots to the left or right of the center with respect to each reference position, but the expression method is not limited to this. Also, as a method of determining the dot size for each reference position, any method may be used as long as each dot size is uniformly arranged in the reference dot pattern.

<Other Embodiments> Incidentally, even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus consisting of one device ( For example, it may be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.). Also,
An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is recorded,
It is needless to say that it is also achieved by supplying to the system or device, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD
-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Etc. do some of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and method for adding a tracking signal so that important information can be detected more easily while suppressing image quality deterioration. To aim.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a color LBP according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the structure of.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a signal processing configuration in the color LBP of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of additional information in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of dot patterns having different sizes according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a reference dot pattern in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image example in which a dot pattern is actually added in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an information addition processing unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an addition process in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of additional information in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing additional dot reference positions in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a shift with respect to a dot reference position in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a correspondence table between additional information and reference positions in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a reference dot pattern formed in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

208 Information addition processing unit 701 CPU 702 ROM 703 register 704 Main scanning counter 705 Sub-scanning counter 706 Additional specification processing unit 707 Signal converter 708 ROM

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/40 B41J 29/00 Z 5C077 F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 BB17 CL10 2C187 AC06 AC07 AD03 AD04 AE07 AF03 BF26 BF34 CD07 DB21 FC08 GD05 GD06 2H134 NA15 NA21 NA24 5B057 AA11 BA02 CB19 CE08 CG07 5C076 AA14 BA06 5C077 LL14 MP01 NN05 PP23 PP66 PP78 PQ08 TT02

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An additional signal generating means for generating an additional signal indicating predetermined information, an intensity signal control means for generating an additional intensity signal indicating an additional intensity level when the additional signal is added, and an image signal. On the other hand, an image processing device comprising: an addition unit that adds the additional signal based on the additional intensity signal. 2. The intensity signal control means generates the additional intensity signal for the additional signal at an additional intensity level according to the degree of importance of information indicated by the additional signal. Image processing device. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an importance information holding unit that holds importance information indicating the importance of the information. 4. The addition means adds the additional signal to the image signal as a dot having a larger size as the additional intensity signal has a higher level.
The image processing device described. 5. The intensity signal control means generates the additional intensity signal at a first level indicating that it is most important when the additional signal indicates information for identifying a maker of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein 6. The intensity signal control means generates the additional intensity signal at a second level lower than the first level when the additional signal indicates information for identifying a machine body of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein 7. The intensity signal control means generates the additional intensity signal at a third level lower than the second level when the additional signal indicates printing status information. The image processing device described. 8. The printing status information includes printing time information and network ID information.
The image processing device described. 9. The adding means adds the additional signal as a dot for each reference area of a predetermined size in the image signal, and represents the predetermined information by the arrangement of the dots in the reference area. The image processing device according to claim 4. 10. The reference area is composed of a plurality of sub-areas corresponding to the type of the information, and the intensity signal control means determines the additional intensity signal according to the sub-area to which the additional signal is added. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the additional strength level is determined. 11. The information indicated by the additional signal includes mark information indicating a start point or an end point of the reference area, and the intensity signal control means indicates that the additional signal indicating the mark information is most important. 10. The additional intensity signal is generated at a first level.
The image processing device described. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adding means adds to the image signal such that the additional signals of the same level are dispersed. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the adding means disperses the additional signals of the same level in bit units and adds them to the image signal. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising additional position information holding means for holding additional position information obtained by dispersing the additional signal in bit units. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image forming means for forming a visible image based on the image signal to which the additional signal is added. 16. An additional signal generating step of generating an additional signal indicating predetermined information, an intensity signal control step of generating an additional intensity signal indicating an additional intensity level when adding the additional signal, and an image signal And an addition step of adding the additional signal based on the additional intensity signal. 17. The step of controlling the intensity signal, wherein the additional intensity signal with respect to the additional signal is generated at an additional intensity level according to the degree of importance of information indicated by the additional signal. The described image processing method. 18. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein in the adding step, the higher the level of the additional intensity signal is, the more the additional signal is added to the image signal as a dot having a larger size. 19. A program that realizes the image processing method according to claim 16 by being executed on a computer. 20. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 19 is recorded.